Hairspray's Stunt Casting Sticks
Hairspray's Stunt Casting SticksTonight marks the official Broadway debut for former 'N' Sync boy bandmember Lance Bass. Talk about an auspicious time for his Great White Way arrival.
As if the film hadn't already returned boffo business to the five-year-old tuner, the stunt casting certainly doesn't hurt.
Ever since the silver screen version of Hairspray hit movie theatres last month, the Broadway show has been playing to SRO crowds. Just last week, the show earned $901,232 -- enough to make it the eighth top grossing Rialto offering of the week. But its sheer capacity of 100.9% eclipsed every other show, including that of the almighty Jersey Boys at 100.8%.
As I said above, the ongoing stunt casting has only added to the interest in the Broadway offering. Where else can pop music fans go see not one, not two, not three, but four pop music artists, including sixties icon Darlene Love (Motormouth Maybelle), nineties soul sensation Tevin Campbell (Seaweed), former O-Town star Ashley Parker Angel (Link), and now Bass?
Plus, there's also the Beav, er, Jerry Mathers as the Wilbur and Grease reality show finalist Ashley Spencer (Amber), who gets the last laugh on the "You're The One That I Want" winners by reaching the Great White Way first.
Finally, it certainly doesn't hurt that the breathtaking Isabel Keating, who scored with her spot-channeling of Judy Garland in The Boy From Oz four years ago, is now cast as Velma.
All of this renewed success portends great things for the upcoming London incarnation that is finally set to take its first bow at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre on October 11, as well as the South African version set to grace the stage of the Gold Reef City Casino's Lyric Theatre in Johannesburg -- perfect for a place where Apartheid came crashing down a mere 14 years ago.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for Hairspray Broadway tickets.
Click here for Hairspray Johannesburg tickets.
Click here for Hairspray London tickets.
Related Stories:
Stuck On Hairspray (July 31, 2007)
Go East, Young Musical, Go East (July 26, 2007)
Touring Hairspray Caught In Sticky Net (April 26, 2007)
Hairspray To Brush With West End Style (March 9, 2007)
Fall At Broadway's Box Office (September 12, 2006)
Labels: Box Office, Broadway, Film, Hairspray, Jerry Mathers, Lance Bass, London, Musical, South Africa, Stunt Casting
posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Tuesday, August 14, 2007
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